UNCG picked second by SoCon men's soccer coaches

SPARTANBURG, SC – Despite being the lone Southern Conference team in the national preseason Top 25 polls, UNC Greensboro is picked second behind Furman in the SoCon Coaches’ Preseason Poll, which was released Tuesday by the conference office.

Furman received five first-place votes to UNCG’s three to gain a 46-45 advantage in the voting. It is the first time since 2003 that UNCG has not been the preseason favorite. In the 11 years that UNCG has been in the SoCon, either UNCG or Furman has been the coaches’ top choice before the season began.

The Paladins return 2006 Southern Conference Player of the Year Jon Leathers after a third place finish in last year’s standings. The Spartans, who lost five of their six top scorers from last year’s squad that swept the SoCon Regular Season and Tournament Championships, were picked No. 23 in the NSCAA Top 25 balloting last week.

Appalachian State was picked third, followed by Elon. College of Charleston and Georgia Southern, last year’s surprise team, were picked in a fifth-place tie. Davidson was seventh, followed by Wofford.

Three UNCG players were named to the preseason all-conference squad. Forward Thomas Campbell, midfielder Jokull Elisabetarson and defender D.J. McCurry were among the 12 players named to the squad. Campbell is the only returnee among UNCG’s Top 6 scorers from last season, while Elisabetarson and McCurry solidify the middle and backside of the pitch and are All-American candidates.

UNCG, coming off a 2-2 tie with 12th-ranked Clemson on Saturday night, continues exhibition action on Sunday when it hosts Winthrop at 7 pm at UNCG Soccer Stadium.

AGATE

2007 Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Furman (5)                          46
2. UNC Greensboro (3)         45
3. Appalachian State             33
4. Elon                                      28
5t. College of Charleston       26
5t. Georgia Southern              26
7. Davidson                             12
8. Wofford                                  8                                         
*Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.

2007 Men’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference
F       Arie Muniz, Appalachian State
F       Sean Sassano, Appalachian State
F       Robby Hoak, Davidson
F       Shea Salinas, Furman
F       Daniel Smith, Georgia Southern
F       Thomas Campbell, UNC Greensboro
MF    Brett Paschall, Elon
MF    Patrick Murray, Furman
MF    Jokull Elisabetarson, UNC Greensboro
D       Paul Pessina, Appalachian State
D       Jon Leathers, Furman
D       D.J. McCurry, UNC Greensboro
GK    Bryan Amos, Furman

- UNCG -